South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-11-04
AN EAST WIND.
-tClarence Urney.
BY HATTIE A. COOLEY.


about that
The amount of mischief that an cas-,
wind can WORK in the daily lives of u,
poor mortals is really astonishing.
When you get up some morning with
sort of edgewisc feeling toward the
world, If things seem inclined to topple
over and get out of place at the merest
touch--in fact, everything goes wrong
in peculiarly cxasperating manner. YOU
have good reason to suspect that the
wind is in the east That is certainly
where ii was on this particular morning
ct the Dcanes.
For several days the cooks tooth had
given ominous threatenings. And when
did an eastcrly wind ever propitiate the
toothachc?
In this case Mt least it aggravated the
dull grumblings into what the sufferer
termed the ''jumpin' toothache, -" with
the awful throbbings of which il was
not to be expected that she would be
over solicitous in regard to the QUALITY
of the coffee or the state of the beef
steak
Now Father Deane himself had
passed far from comfortable night be-
tween twinges of neuralgia in his head
and rheumatic aches down his back. TO
say nothing OF the creaking of certain
" fh Il
except when the wind was in this one
direction. The breakfast, muddy cof-
Ice and weak at that, the cook having
simply poured In more water upon the
old grounds without so much as adding
grain OF fresh coffee, and steak burnt
in respect to outward appearance but
raw i'll inward reality-no, the breakfast
did not tend to soothc him into better
frame OF mind. Generally he was a
pretty jolly, good natured man, but
when ne was down, as the cook said,
''he was down indade." He was down
'fndade" this morning. So poor Mother
Deane sighed very often. She was n
sinister title body, keenly alive to her
husbands moods.
Miss Winnie Deane's was the only
bright face at the breakfast table. She
scarcely noticed her fathers frowns or
her mothers sighs. The words which
Charley Traver had whispered the even
ing before rang too loudly through her
happy thoughts. He was to Sc, her
iather at the office this very morning.
And, knowing by actual experience that
after good breakfast Father Deane
aevcr had the heart to refuse his daugh-
.er anything, she had charged Charley
to be sure and 90 early before business
began. She felt very confident that it
would be the most favorable of times to
speak to her father, but then there
wasn't the slightest doubt as TO his
answer any way; for, had not Charley
rraver Always been great favorite of
his?
Miss Winnie little realized what queer
,hangcs come about with a shifting
wind as well rs with n turn of the tide.
Father Dcanc started off down town
walking unusually fast on account of the
iisagrccablc air. Therefore he was n
triiie earlier as the office boy was a trihe
later than common, the latter having run
IN an GRAND for mis- mother, who, be-
ing something Of an invalid, could not
90 out In all kinds Of weather. And
consequently, Father Dcanc had his
choice Of the dust from the boys vieor-
)us sweeping or Of tramp mp and down
the draughty hall
lie had just settled himself Mt ;he
desk when Charley Travcr came in.
The young mans face was somewhat
flushed, but he said Good morning
Mr.. Dcanc," with bright cheeriness and
IN air Of confidence rs TO his reception.
Good morning" responded that gentle
man coldly rs he turned about from his
desk and looked over his glasses at his
carly caller. Some people do have such
M upsctiing way Of pccring over tho
tops Of their glasses at one; it would
discomfort the coolest heart and strong
est head Charley Traver was self.
possessed young man, but ! suppose the
most sc'fposscssod have moments Of
awkwardnc-s. Charlcys had come now.
Nevertheless he plunged bravcly to the
point at once.
! presume you have noticed. Mr.
Dcauc, that ] have been quite frequent
visitor at your homo lately"
Father Dcanc bald head gave nm al
most imPcrccptiblc nod which was not
very helpful TO The young man.
Tho '1c. is.' said he. growing moro
and moro a.rvous. miss Winnie has
rromiscl 10 bc NY wife with your con
sent which hope ! have"
Cnlucky Charley hc did not know
that as d sat facing his visitor. a
breath Of that clg amo wind having